Giant Martian Meteorite, Largest Ever Found, Set to Fetch Millions at Sotheby's Auction

NEW YORK – A monumental piece of the Red Planet, weighing a staggering 54 pounds (25 kilograms), is poised to make history at Sotheby's, with an estimated auction price ranging from $2 million to $4 million. Known as NWA 16788, this extraordinary specimen represents the largest piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth, making it a "once-in-a-generation find" for collectors and scientists alike.

The colossal rock, described as a red, brown, and gray hunk, is approximately 70% larger than the next largest known Martian meteorite and constitutes nearly 7% of all Martian material currently on our planet. It measures an impressive 15 inches by 11 inches by 6 inches (375mm by 279mm by 152mm).

A Journey of 140 Million Miles

Scientists believe NWA 16788 was violently ejected from the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid impact. Following this cosmic collision, the meteorite embarked on an epic 140-million-mile (225 million-kilometer) journey through space before eventually crashing into the Sahara Desert. It was discovered by a meteorite hunter in Niger in November 2023.

Rare and Scientifically Significant

Martian meteorites are exceptionally rare. Out of more than 77,000 officially recognized meteorites found on Earth, only about 400 have been confirmed to originate from Mars. The sheer size of NWA 16788 not only makes it a highly coveted collector's item but also a treasure trove for scientific research, offering an unprecedented "massive dataset" to unlock the secrets of Earth's celestial neighbor.

A small fragment of NWA 16788 was sent to a specialized laboratory for rigorous analysis, confirming its Martian origin. It was compared against the distinct chemical composition of Martian meteorites first identified by the Viking space probe in 1976. The examination classified it as an "olivine-microgabbroic shergottite," a type of Martian rock formed from the slow cooling of Martian magma. Its coarse-grained texture contains minerals like pyroxene and olivine, and its surface exhibits a glassy fusion crust—a telltale sign of the extreme heat endured during its fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere.

The Auction Block

NWA 16788 is a centerpiece of Sotheby's natural history-themed sale, part of their "Geek Week 2025," which is scheduled for Wednesday, July 16, in New York. The auction features 122 items, including other meteorites, fossils, and gem-quality minerals. Notably, another highlight of the sale is a juvenile Ceratosaurus dinosaur skeleton, estimated to fetch between $4 million and $6 million.

"This Martian meteorite is the largest piece of Mars we have ever found by a long shot," stated Cassandra Hatton, vice chairman for science and natural history at Sotheby's. "So it's more than double the size of what we previously thought was the largest piece of Mars." While its previous owner was not disclosed, the meteorite had been on exhibit at the Italian Space Agency in Rome. Although the exact date of its fall to Earth is unclear, testing suggests it occurred in recent years.

The auction of NWA 16788 marks a unique opportunity for private collectors and institutions to acquire a tangible link to Mars, further fueling humanity's enduring fascination with the cosmos.